SMETHPORT — A Bradford man pleaded guilty earlier in the week, on the day his case was set for trial in McKean County Court, to a charge of sexually assaulting a teenage female last year.

Justin M. Schlopy, 32, of 79 W. Corydon St. was charged after an investigation by Bradford City Sgt. Jason Daugherty.

The victim and her parents reported to Bradford Regional Medical Center to report a sexual assault the prior evening, according to McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer.

The victim had spent the night at a relative’s house the evening of Oct. 29, 2022. She reported to police that, during the evening while everyone in the house slept, Schlopy had intercourse with her without her consent.

He was ordered to undergo a sexually violent predator assessment as required by law and scheduled for sentencing in 90 days.

Shaffer explained Schlopy will be evaluated by the Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which has 90 days to complete the evaluation. If the evaluator feels Schlopy meets criteria in the statute, a hearing is scheduled for the court to determine if he should be classified as a sexually violent predator.

“Pennsylvania statute outlines which crimes require sex offender registration in addition to those determined to be sexually violent predators, and the crimes are classified by the legislature as Tier I, Tier II and Tier III,” Shaffer said, explaining that Tier III sexual offenses require that the offender register as a sex offender for his lifetime.

The crime of “sexual assault” carries a lifetime registration requirement.

“Offenders who are determined to be a sexually violent predator also have to register for their lifetime and have additional requirements,” she added. “Even if someone is convicted of a crime that requires lifetime registration, the law still requires they undergo this assessment prior to sentencing. This is the reason that sentencing occurs more than 90 days after the conviction.”